High Functional Anxiety: 7 Subtle Signs You May Be Struggling and Ways to Cope

Like most mental health conditions, anxiety can manifest in a variety of ways, including high-functioning anxiety. Dealing with this condition can be difficult, and in this article we’ll explore what high-functioning anxiety is, its signs, and much more.

High-functioning anxiety, sometimes called “smiling depression” or “hidden anxiety,” is characterized by individuals who appear calm and collected on the outside but experience anxiety on the inside. The exact causes of high-functioning anxiety can be complex and vary from person to person. Some common factors that can contribute include genes, past trauma, stressful life events, social expectations and cultural norms, and imbalance of brain chemicals. However, it can be difficult to identify because those who experience it often appear calm and successful on the outside. Anxiety is a mental illness that can be difficult to recognize. It is difficult to spot and can have a significant impact on daily life, affecting a person’s physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. It is therefore important to learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of high-functioning anxiety as well as ways to cope with them.

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COMMON SIGNS OF HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY

1. Perfectionism: setting standards that are too high and feeling distress when they are not met.
2. Overthinking: Constantly ruminating on past events or worrying about future outcomes, leading to mental exhaustion.
3. Constant worry: feeling anxious about various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, health, and future uncertainties.
4. Physical symptoms: Experiencing physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension, headaches, stomach upset, or difficulty sleeping.
5. Avoidance: avoiding situations, people or activities that trigger anxiety
6. Sensitive to criticism: Reacting strongly to criticism by feeling personally attacked or overthinking constructive feedback.
7. Procrastination: Delaying tasks due to fear of failure or anxiety about the outcome, even if they are well qualified for the task.
8. People-pleaser: Constantly seeking approval from others and going to great lengths to avoid disappointing anyone.
9. Difficulty making decisions: Difficulty making a decision due to fear of making the wrong choice and suffering the consequences.

Living with anxiety can be difficult. Here are some coping strategies that may work:

• Self-awareness: recognizing your anxiety and its impact on your life. Recognizing it is the first step to dealing with it.
• Therapy: Consider therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy to learn strategies to maintain anxiety and develop healthier thought patterns.
• Regular exercise and healthy lifestyle choices: Physical activity and maintaining a well-balanced diet can reduce anxiety levels and improve mood.
• Time management: Break tasks into manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed and reduce the anxiety of completing large projects.